Blogiversary IV: You Time

We’ve blabbed on (and on) about ourselves this week, so we wanted to take a moment (as we usually do during these blogiversary weeks) to focus on you… and your feelings. Okay, not so much your feelings. Unless, um, you want to talk about them.

But seriously, you know so much about us, so we’d love to learn a bit about you (and no, this isn’t some not-so-cleverly disguised marketing research survey – it’s just us being nosy and wondering who the heck you fine people are). So just like last year, I’m breaking out our little polling plug-in to let you guys weigh in about yourselves. And just as you have in past years, feel free to expand on any answer in the comment section – or just use it to share something random (favorite food?), link to your blog, or tell us something else about yourself that you think we should know (anyone sporting a soda shirt?).

Darn, our polling plug-in isn’t playing nice right now (aka: it crashed our site four times in a row) so we spontaneously moved the poll party over to Facebook. Here’s for ya. Don’t forget after you submit your poll to: 1) scroll up and 2) click the “view results” button at the top of the page (to see where you fall into the mix). It’s so interesting for us to learn more about you guys! Oh and ignore the big ugly ad at the top of the poll, this was one of those ahh-we’re-crashing-and-need-another-quick-alternative kind of decisions.

If you’re not in Facebook or just prefer to sound off in the comments, here are some of the questions (we just won’t have the capability to tally those up like the Facebook poll automatically does):

how old you are

your gender

where you live (state, country, or continent)

who you live with (better half, kids, pups, imaginary friends?)

if you own/rent/live in dorms/live with rents, etc

your idea of a good Saturday afternoon (working on a big reno? a small craft project? watching design shows?)

what reality show you’d like to be on (Design Star? Project Runway? Amazing Race? Jersey Shore?)

Thanks for playing along!

PS: The collage of photos at the top of this post are some of your gravatars plucked from actual comments on our site (and what a good looking bunch you are). If you’re currently gravatar-less (or don’t know what one is) you can learn more about it .

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UPDATE: Now that it has been a couple of days, a few people suggested that we post the results of the for all to see back here (remember it’s not really a perfect representation of all of our readers because 5,000 people took the poll, but many others commented with their stats instead – and I’m sure a fair amount stayed silent altogether):

AGE: 63% are twenty-somethings, 29% are thirty-somethings, 4% are forty-somethings, 1% are fifty- and 1% are teens

GENDER: 99% are women, 1% are men (are the guys just being quiz-shy or something?)

LOCATION: 87% live in the USA, 5% in Canada, 4% in Europe, 2% in Australia, and 1% in Asia

HOME: 61% own their home, 31% rent, 6% live with parents, and 1% live at school

OTHER: A majority of readers are married, have pets, and a winning smile (these percentages were off because Facebook tallied it out of total answers to the question, not total respondents)

FAV AFTERNOON ACTIVITY: In order of popularity (most to least): fun family outing, reading blogs, doing small craft, shopping, working on big makover, watching design shows, decorating for a party, and last but not least: going to open houses.

REALITY SHOW: In order of popularity (most to least): Amazing Race, Design Star, Top Chef, America’s Next Top Model, American Idol, Jersey Shore, Cops (yes, 166 people would like to be on Cops).

Thanks so much for the fun! It really is great to get to know you all a little more.

Just started doing my blog again after a year of CRAZY, but just wanted to say that you all inspire me when it comes to working on my home! I used to always be in the mindset that either the changes or the cost or both had to be major or else I wasn’t doing something spectacular. Y’all dispelled all of that for me! Thank you!

Ah! You guys put my gravatar in your collage! That’s so cool! I love that the surveys are in poll form because we get to see where everyone else is from without having to scroll through 100 pages of comments!

And while I don’t have any soda shirts like John, I do have a fabulous illustrated Golden Girls shirt ().

So now that that’s out of the way…I will tell you about me:
I blog, design (graphics), (wo)man an Etsy shop, and do a little semi-pro photography…and work full time outside the home. Somewhere in there I find time for my wonderful boyfriend and darling daughter. We love to garage sale and we’re very slowly decorating the house he bought 8 months ago and you guys are a great source of inspiration.

And I have a shirt that says “California” in the Coca-Cola font style. Does that count? Am I cool like John?

Only cause you guys mention turning 30 in the interview and I just did in August. So I had to choose my age starts with number 3, which now puts me in the minority … ok slight depression creeping in LOL (i mean kinda sad face)

Oooh I’m 29 now(for a few more months – and I intend to milk every last moment!). This thing happens a lot to me when I’m filling out a form – my hand goes automatically to the first checkbox (usually an 18-somthing one), then I move to the next box and it’s still not it!! Then I move to the nexxt one after that… I always tell this story when age discussions happen :)

Could be worse. You could be like me — one of the 3% of 40 year olds reading the blog ;}. What do I care?! A great DIY home dec blog with an adorable chihuahua is a tough one to beat in my book! Molly in Florida

Just wanted to comment in and add that I love your blog. You have inspired me and the hubs to make our rental apartment feel like our own with a few DIY projects. Also, I’m a fellow Jersey girl who logs in daily from my Parsippany office. Your the first web address I type in the morning. Even before checking my work email!

I read it 1-2 times a day at work using Google Reader on my Mac laptop! Occasionally, if I miss a few, I read them at home on my iPad. Thanks for the chance to weigh in on the poll! I am looking forward to seeing the results.

work computer mostly. desktop. so I guess that’s big ol honkin computer. at home it’s laptop. a white macbook to be more specific. :-) and yes, I have been so obsessed some weekends and when I’m away from office to check on my iPhone! I’m pretty much a YHL addict.

i read your blog on my netbook (with wonky internet that likes to cut out right as i’m trying to post a comment – not this time, but it did it earlier when i commented on the morning post!) totally worth restarting the computer to get in my YHL fix for the day!

I used to read on my work desktop computers at my past 2 jobs, but now that I don’t have work access, I read at home on my desktop. If I’m not at home (like if I have a really busy day and am out sitting waiting for class to begin in the evenings or am on vacation or a passenger in a car on a roadtrip) then I’ll read it on my smartphone!

I seriously go into YHL withdrawal if I have to go for more than a day without checking in… usually I check in 3-4 times a day if I can! Love your blog! And I’d totally like to be BFF with you both even though you didn’t seem to believe that in your video. Too bad Raleigh’s not a little closer to Richmond!

I’d like to clear up one little answer to a question… I answered that my house belonged to my parents/some other family member…. It does BUT we don’t live with our parents! My mother-in-law owns the home and we are renting it from her (without her living in it) as our first home! We have thought about buying it from her and reno-ing the entire thing but that is just a big plan/dream right now! Just wanted to clear that one up after seeing the results “5% living with their parents”.

Come check out my blog! I am just getting started blogging and you two offer a ton of inspiration and motivation! Have a great day!!

I’m sort of the same – we live on a farm, both working in the family farming business so we live in one of the many farmhouses dotted about the properties. So we don’t ‘own’ our house, although we can do whatever we want to it, but we don’t want to spend any money on a house which isn’t ours – make sense?!

Aaw! I spy my own photo in that collage. Im sure it was a totally random selection process- but it made me smile to see it…. Thanks guys! :) You are totally an inspiration to me & I hope my own “hobby” of a blog will one day turn into more- but for now- I’m just like how you started- ignoring the site stats and just focusing on getting my pseudo-funny/crazy/helpful project recaps and ‘glimpse into the life’ stories out there for the world to hear about. <3

Love this survey!! I’ve been so inspired by your blog over the past year that I started one of my own after moving in to a new duplex a few months back. My boyfriend had a really great idea on how to create a deer silhoutte painting (or any silhoutte, really!) Check it out if you want! Luv you guys!

And sadly, i’m not wearing a soda shirt, but if I was it would definitely be Mug Rootbeer!!

I just wanted to let the two of you know that seeing your update in my google reader is one of my favorite parts of the day. I live in a college student apartment (bleh.) so I love to live vicariously through your decorating victories. If you are even in Utah…we should for sure hang out. You guys are great :)

Loving all of your blogiversary posts this week guys! I am a regular reader but rarely comment. You always inspire me to want to update something in my house (most recently, dying to ORB the brass knobs I hate!) :)

I don’t have any soda shirts.. but I have a smurf shirt.. that’s almost as cool… right?! My outdated browser at the office won’t let me answer the poll questions.. I’ll try to remember to come back and answer them when I get home this evening!

I never thought that at 34 I’d be on the older spectrum, and that most of your followers, likely in their 20’s own their own homes. (womp womp…)We are looking to buy (right now in fact), but still rent. Maybe its a California thing.

Congrats on 4 years! :) I’ll never forget doing a google search for “white kitchen cabinets” and finding the image of your old kitchen. It not only introduced me to your site, but to blogging in general!

The place where you currently reside – I marked with my parents but feel the need to clarify. We have been going through a long and very difficult process building a house. A year later and the house is STILL being built. So my family of four + dog are living with my parents. Our house is going to be awesome but WOW!

Are you going to be switching to a big girl bed any time soon? Maybe it’s not on your radar yet, but. I’m just starting to transfer my daycare boys who are 19 months onto nap mats instead of pac n plays since their parents are switching to beds. Just curious :)

We actually haven’t thought about it yet. Maybe around two years old? A few of her 2 year old cousins are still in cribs so we’ll probably wait to see how it goes with them and slowly follow their lead. Haha.

Ummm…your site is C-AH-RASH-ING….bummer dude. Maybe the 5 figure website fee needs to take a heavier load! :) Trying to do the poll, but it keeps locking up and freezing. Don’t you love being the popular kids on the block?! Love your site mucho mucho much! MUAH!

Haha, I thought about that too. We’re working hard to remedy that (does it “belong to us” when it’s over half paid off?! Hah.) Some months we like to joke — HEY. WE OFFICIALLY OWN THIS DOOR NOW. Or THIS WALL!

when knowing how much time it takes sherry to approve all the comments (and answer to many of them), i think twice before posting something – isn’t that crazy? i know that isn’t something you would want – less comments – but i just wouldn’t like to impose.

anyway, i really wanted to congratulate you on your 4th year of blogging, to thank you for the good job you are doing (you are my favorite blog(gers!)) and for the joy and inspiration you are spreading on the www. also, thank you for the opportunity to peak into your private life as well, i know many of us here appreciate that. you have beautiful family, and i wish you a lot of happiness!

i myself am from croatia, europe, freelancing in copywriting (! :D ), translating books from french, involved in activism, renting a small apartment together with my (male) roommate (who is an engineer in informatics and not too interested in decorating, so i – wanting to consider his (supposed) preferences – put used pc motherboard on our kitchen wall to serve as an artwork :)

Just wanted to take a minute to comment and let you all know that I’ve been reading for about a year and a half now–thank goodness I found out about you in a Washington Post chat way back when, my brother and my mom both get YHL links from me frequently! I’m a renter so many of your projects are “one day” kind of things for me, but I have been inspired to conquer some of the smaller projects (a Pinterest challenge, lots of spray paint action, and even a ceramic animal of my very own). I also love to hear about all things Clara and Burger and love the Young House Life change! Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the great work!

I’m checking in… I’m sure you know (since I am a celebrity in my own mind and my personal human tag line should be “I’m Entertainment”) I’m a designer. Not a snobby one, but occasionally snarky.

I read your blog religiously and wish I could be more DIY myself, but know I’m better at designing stuff and having other people do the work. Hence the J Lo booty I’m rocking. But I love being the type of designer that gives the homeowner the choice to let them DIY it or they can hire it out. *insert George Michael’s “Freedom” song*

So, I love your blog immensely and wish you continued success in your blogging adventures. xoxo

Fun survey, I enjoyed taking it! I just want to say how much I enjoy and love your blog so much. I admit I’m not much of a DIYer, and what gets me coming back to your blog everyday is your creative writing and your awesome personalities that shine through. You’re both such talented people and I’ve learned so much through your blogs. And I’m absolutely loving your new one “Young House Life” since it’s your life that I’m even more intrigued about and love reading…hope that’s not too creepy, ha! ;)

Hello friends! I’m a quiet observer but just wanted to tell y’all that you were my maiden voyage into the blogging world, and it’s been lovely. Every day, I’m inspired by some little (and sometimes big!) project you manage to navigate! You’re the inspiration (Chicago-style… Do I hear an 80’s dance party around the corner…) for tons of projects around my little house.

A picture of the bay window in my breakfast room has been on your blog, and is also something that get searched for on the internets all the time. Apparently, bay windows are very difficult for people!

My life includes…
running. Lots of running. I’m currently training for my 4th marathon. I thought I’d only ever do ONE but here I am gearing up for NYC on November 6th. It’s safe to say I’m addicted to it(and your blog)!